Clusters in the Center Square

Designed by Julie A. Bolduc

This 8 inch granny square is fun and easy to make and would look great made into an afghan made up of various colors of multicolored yarn with white. It is also a great way to use scraps. I used 2 different plies of yarn. The white is sport and the multi is worsted weight. The thickness of the 2 yarns is so close that you almost cannot tell the difference.

Materials Needed
Worsted weight acrylic yarn in a multi color. Red Heart Super Saver in Bikini was used in the example.
3 Ply Sport acrylic yarn in White. Red Heart Sport was used in the example
Size G/6 or 4.25mm aluminum crochet hook
Yarn needle for weaving in ends

Yarn Thickness: 3mm
Gauge: 5sc=1"
Finished Size: 8" x 8"
Skill Level: Beginner

Special Stitches
Starting Cluster (stcl): Ch3, *yo, insert hook in stitch indicated draw up a loop, yo draw through 2 lps on hook then rep from * one more time, then yo and draw yarn through all 3 lps on hook.
Cl (cluster): *yo, insert hook in stitch indicated draw up a loop, yo draw through 2 lps on hook then rep from * two more times, then yo and draw yarn through all 4 lps on hook.

Instructions
RND 1: With multicolored yarn, ch8, join w/slst to first ch to form ring. Stcl in ring. Ch2. *Cl in ring. Ch2. Rep from * 6 times more. Join w/slst to top of stcl. (8clusters)

RND 2: Slst into the first ch2 sp. Stcl in same sp, ch2, cl in same sp. Ch2. *Cl, ch2, cl in next ch2 sp. Ch2. Rep from* around. Join w/slst to top of stcl.

RND 3: Slst into the next ch2 sp. Stcl, ch2, cl in same sp. Ch2. Cl in next ch2 sp. Ch2. *Cl, ch2, cl in next ch2 sp. Ch2. Cl in next ch2 sp. Ch2. Rep from* around. Join w/slst to top of stcl. Fasten off multi.

RND 4: Join white in first ch2 sp after slst. Ch4. *Sc in next ch2 sp. Ch3. Rep from * around. Join w/slst to first ch of ch4.

RND 5: Slst into the first ch3 sp. Ch1, sc in same sp. (3dc, ch2, 3dc in next ch3 sp. Sc in next ch3 sp. 3sc in each of the next 3 ch3 sps.) *Sc in next ch3 sp. Rep bet () once. Rep from * around. Join w/slst to first sc.

RND 6: Ch3. (Dc in each of the next 3dc. 3dc, ch2, 3dc in next ch2 corner sp. Dc in each of the next 13 sts.) *Dc in next sc. Rep bet () once. Rep from * around. Join w/slst to top of ch3.

RND 7: Ch4. Sk next dc. (Dc in next dc. Ch1, sk1 dc, twice. Dc in next dc. 3dc, ch2, 3dc in next ch2 corner sp. Dc in next dc. Ch1, sk 1 dc, 8 times.) *Dc in next dc, ch1, sc next dc. Rep bet () once. Rep from * around. Join w/slst to 3rd ch of ch4.

RND 8: Ch3. (Dc in next ch1 sp, dc in next dc, 3 times. Dc in each of the next 3dc. 3dc, ch2, 3dc in next ch2 sp. Dc in each of thenext 4 dc. Dc I next ch1 sp, dc in next dc, 7 times. Dc in next ch1 sp.) *Dc in next dc. Rep bet () once. Rep from * around. Join w/slst to top of ch3. Fasten off white.

RND 9: Join multi in same sp as slst. Ch1. Sc in each st around but work a sc, ch2, sc in each ch2 corner sp. Join w/slst to ch1. Fasten off and weave ends into back of work.

Design written on Wednesday, August 09, 2006. Copyright ©2006 By Julie A. Bolduc p101039